The Phantasy Snitch: December 2025
Rediscovered Realms is catching you up on some of the coolest fantasy news that just won’t fit in our regular weekly edition. Welcome to the December 2025 issue of The Phantasy Snitch!
Rediscovered Realms’ denizens . . . er, citizens can now enjoy a curated lite dose of worthy Fantasy-related news, products, and rumours from the RPG, fantasy book, movie, D&D, LOTR, mythology, board game, art & archaeology genres (and you now have extra time to immerse yourself within all our other beefier newsletters!)
Buckle into your saddle, this super-sized edition is packed extra-full of fantasy fun!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.
This Week’s Rediscovered Realms Theme Song:
“This week’s crafted song is Cozy Winter Realms — a fireside tune for snowy nights and seasonal fantasy warmth.
| Genre: Cozy Celtic Fantasy Instrumental |
“Cozy Winter Realms”
State of the Realms Address
Welcome to Rediscovered Realms’ final edition of the Phantasy Snitch for 2025. What a year full of adventures, misadventures, epic deeds . . . and the occasional misdeed (🤫shhh!)
As I look forward to 2026, I wish you a wonderful finish to this year, full of family, friends, cozy tavern tales & song.
I thought I’d share a quote I’ve been thinking on:
“Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose a challenge instead of competence.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
As I reflect on my year and rush headlong into its successor with the traditional flurry of to-do’s, obligations, unknowns, anxieties, hopes, goals & dreams, I want to use this quote as a guide.
A guide to a more meaningful 2026, boldly embracing those unknowns inherent in all our lives.
Security isn’t predictable, and though I am often lulled into thinking so, it’s also not about comfort.
Mrs. Roosevelt suggested it comes from treating life as an Adventure, daring us to leap into the unknown with Imagination and Courage.
For it is only then that we can learn, grow and evolve into our best selves.
New experiences expose us to risk, yes, but isn’t that where true transformation begins, through mistakes and all?
Looking at life through the lens of Adventure over the past few years has helped me personally build up self-trust - a confidence I never had before to face the hordes of inevitable challenges that always invade reality.
So, instead of just relying on the same ol’ routines and skills already developed, I’m going to attempt to level-up, commit to pushing forward with more of “me”, come what may. I want to unleash Creativity for Creativity’s sake, and hopefully have a lot of fun along the way.
I hope you’ll join me in thinking of your life as an Adventure and choosing “challenge instead of competence”. And if nothing else comes of it, you can bet it will be exciting.
And now, to the news, Brave Adventurer!
THE NEWS:
Middle-Earth Yoga Matts and Blankets?
These look really cool. Misty Mountains, The Shire, Lonely Mountain, Tree of Gondor, Gandalf. I saw their ad a month or two back but haven’t given in to get one yet.
It may be me, but there’s something about “Downward Facing Balrog” that just seems a bit unnatural…
Signed Deluxe Edition “The First Law” books by Joe Abercrombie
I haven’t read this series, so won’t be picking up this special edition, but I figured that there are some fans here who might be interested in this Kickstarter.
Another world I haven’t yet delved into is Eldenring, but these deluxe lore books by Tune & Fairweather might tempt me by their pure beauty!
“Mother of Dragonlance” interview with Margaret Weis
This is a really interesting interview for any Dragonlance fans!
Sticking with the old-school theme, here’s a new article from History you’ll find fascinating, “When Dungeons & Dragons Cast Its Spell on 1980s America”
If you ever wondered about the D&D controversy in the early 1980s . . .
The “Dungeon Crawler Carl” book series by Matt Dinniman is getting its own TV series
Another set of books I haven’t read yet, but wow has this series had success! It started as an online serial in 2020 before being expanded to ebooks & audiobooks . . . and ultimately purchased by Ace Books, where they now show up on physical bookshelves across the world.
“A veteran named Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk, get roped into the competition. The characters each have stats, just like they would in D&D. Their skills and stats get enhanced by their clothing.”
There’s a new tabletop heroic high fantasy RPG, called “Draw Steel”. Here’s a neat article on GameRant: “New Dungeons & Dragons Alternative Has a Clear Target”
“It is aiming directly at tactical players who love combat as a system to be explored, not merely endured between story beats. Built around a fundamentally different philosophy of combat pacing, player agency, and encounter design.”
Algal the Bard has done it again, reimagining modern music as bardic ballads. You need to check out Iron Maiden’s “Wasted Years” on lute & fife. . . beautiful!
This is perfect music for just about any fantasy campaign.
I don’t get overly excited anymore about new fantasy show releases as I’m often very disappointed. HOWEVER, Screenrant’s listicle of “11 Most Exciting Upcoming Fantasy Shows Releasing in 2026” has me very hopeful!
For those of you suggested podcast playthrough recommendations, here’s a brand-new Dungeons & Dragons podcast called, “Roll the Bones”
“Roll the Bones is a new Dungeons & Dragons podcast brought to you by a crew that includes writers, actors, game designers, and a college professor.”
A Swiss medieval prison turned into a fantasy art museum? Yes please! “Art meets imagination: John Howe brings Tolkien’s universe to life in Swiss Medieval Museum”




Here’s a cool fantasy art gallery: Dungeons & Dragons character thumbnail sketches by John Grello!
Check out all 14 in his artstation page in the link above
Too late for this year, but cool nonetheless: check out these D&D handcrafted ornaments!
Now, I wonder what would happen if you hung a Mimic ornament on a Mimic tree? Sounds like pure Inception to me.
After re-watching this classic fantasy movie earlier this year for the first time in decades, I have to agree with this article: “Dragonslayer still delivers the best dragon scene ever filmed”
You still have time to grab movie tickets to the 40th anniversary re-release of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth!
January 8th -11th, 2026
Keeping the 80s fantasy movie vibe going, you may want to check if “The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes” is coming to a town near you!
Watch the movie, then listen to Cary speak to the audience live about being behind the scenes of this classic movie!
For the Lord of the Rings 25th anniversary, Fathom Entertainment is re-releasing the extended LOTR movies in theaters near you!
Do yourself a favor and see these in the theater again or for the first time.
I don’t have space right now, but for those who do, here is a new set of Lord of the Rings Funko Pops available for pre-order!
In mytho-archaeological news, “Restoration plans for ‘Merlin’s Mound’ approved”
“A neolithic monument which legend says contains the remains of King Arthur's magical mentor Merlin is to be restored.”
(I wonder how many extra clicks I would get on this link if it was instead titled, “Restoration plans for ‘Morgana’s Mound’ approved”?)
For anyone living, visiting, or near enough to drive to Dallas, Texas, you may want to visit the “Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest”
“Step into a fully immersive Dungeons & Dragons-inspired adventure, where you and your party become the heroes”
I have a little time off from work and was wondering about these Army Painter “Speedpaint Markers”.
Any miniature painters here have experience with them?
Don’t forget to become a paid subscriber to enter into our “Last Epic Fantasy Loot Giveaway (of 2025)”
(There are also a couple giveaway prizes available for free subscribers!)
And for the final news item, there just wasn’t enough time to put together a new Rediscovered Realms Fantasy Gift Guide for this year. Brodryk is pretty upset with me, so I’m going to post last year’s tour. (Just make sure to visit his shoppe to see all the incredible new items and categories he’s added this year!)
As an Amazon1 Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
As the embers of 2025 settle low in the hearth and the snows of a new year gather beyond the door, I hope you’ll carry this spirit of Adventure with you into whatever realms await. May your days be filled with curiosity, your nights warmed by good stories and song, and your path lit by imagination — even when the way forward feels uncertain.
Until we meet again in 2026, keep your ears open for rumors, your pack ready for the road ahead, and your heart bold enough to choose challenge over comfort.
Safe travels, Brave Adventurer — and always make sure to keep the Adventure alive.
You are not only brave, but a Generous Adventurer whose love of Discovery, Imagination & Fun transcends our mere mortal coils . . .
. . . and for that, I thank you!
Do you love heroic fantasy gamebooks like me? Consider signing up to be informed when I launch my very 1st one!
(Featuring artwork from Clyde Caldwell & Luke Eidenschink!)
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.


































